Ethan Buffalo
Reporter
Upgrade shattered all expectations. Fast-paced action coupled with a unique premise made for a satisfying late-night movie rental. I’d recommend it to anyone with a passion for sci-fi, stylish fight sequences, or a deep-seeded love for action movies in general.
Taking place in a not-so-distant future, the viewer follows mechanic Grey Trace, played by Logan Marshall-Green. Trace is a hands-on type of person in an increasingly technological world. After returning a restored vehicle to his client, tech genius Eron Keen, played by Harrison Gilbertson, Grey returns home with his wife Asha, played by Melanie Vallejo, in her car.
On the way home, the couple is attacked by robotically enhanced muggers with Grey left paralyzed and Asha murdered. While recovering in the hospital, Grey is visited by Eron again, who offers him the opportunity to walk again with his invention STEM, an artificial intelligence implant capable of operating Grey’s body.
After a successful operation, Grey finds out that STEM, voiced by Simon Maiden, is sentient and extremely intelligent. Of course, Grey uses this opportunity, not as a new lease on life, but rather to hunt down the men responsible for Asha’s death.
Director Leigh Whannell utilizes this outlandish premise and blends in moments of dread, dark humor, and heart-pumping action throughout the 100-minute run time. Impressive for a director whose only other directing credit is Insidious: Chapter 3. His background in writing horror is prevalent throughout with the general theme of the danger of technology as society becomes more and more dependent on it.
The film’s star Logan Marshall-Greene nails the role, showcasing a range of emotions throughout and the physicality of a paralyzed man who literally has a robot operating his movements.
The rapid internal conversations between Grey and STEM alleviate some of the plot’s slower movements, of which there are few, so there’s never a down moment between fight scenes.
Overall, Upgrade is focused on the “why” of its premise and not the “how.” Audiences who crave scientific accuracy and big-name stars, this isn’t the film for you. However, if viewers want snappy dialogue, adrenaline-inducing fight scenes, and a unique premise that will leave them wanting more, then watch this film.
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